European banks could eliminate more than 200,000 jobs by 2030 as artificial intelligence reshapes operations and accelerates branch closures. Back-office, risk, and compliance roles are expected to be most affected.
The rise of AI startups is renewing interest in founders who leave school early to build companies. Investors say the dropout label matters less than execution, timing, and defensible products.
Chinese AI startup MiniMax plans a Hong Kong IPO, aiming to raise over $600 million with backing from Alibaba and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The move positions MiniMax as a key player in China’s generative AI market.
China’s Cyberspace Administration proposed strict AI regulations to protect children and prevent chatbots from promoting self-harm, violence, or gambling, while ensuring human oversight in sensitive interactions.
Octopus Energy plans to spin out its AI software unit Kraken Technologies, following a $1 billion funding round that values the business at $8.65 billion. The move sets the stage for a potential public listing.
SoftBank has finalized its $40 billion investment in OpenAI, increasing its stake above 10%. The funding supports AI infrastructure initiatives, joint ventures, and OpenAI’s broader growth, including plans for a potential IPO.
Goldman Sachs and Newmark Group are raising capital to develop private power sites for AI data centers in Texas. The effort reflects growing Wall Street focus on AI-driven energy infrastructure.
Investors expect enterprises to increase AI budgets in 2026 while cutting back on experimentation. Spending is likely to concentrate among fewer vendors that demonstrate clear returns.
Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire Singapore-based AI startup Manus for about $2 billion, gaining a rare revenue-generating AI agent platform. The deal strengthens Meta’s AI strategy as investor scrutiny grows around heavy infrastructure spending.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants will discontinue remote exams from March 2026, citing rising misconduct linked to AI tools. Most candidates will return to in-person test centers.
China’s cyber regulator released draft rules targeting AI services that simulate human personalities and interact emotionally. The proposals aim to address safety, addiction, and ethical concerns.
The world’s largest accounting body will scrap remote exams from March, citing rising cheating risks linked to AI tools. Candidates will be required to sit assessments in person except in limited cases.
Former OpenAI and Tesla AI leader Andrej Karpathy said rapid advances in AI tools are fundamentally changing how software is built. He warned developers risk falling behind if they fail to adapt to new AI-driven workflows.
U.S. senators Bernie Sanders and Katie Britt raised concerns about AI’s economic and social impact, calling for stronger oversight. Their remarks highlight growing bipartisan scrutiny of AI deployment.
Indian startups raised $10.5 billion in 2025, with fewer deals and tighter investor selectivity. AI funding grew modestly, diverging sharply from capital concentration trends in the U.S.